Human beings must always be on the watch for the coming of wonders.

E.B. White was an essayist, author, and literary stylist who wrote for “The New Yorker” and — most famously — wrote children's novels, including the modern classics “Stuart Little” (1945) and “Charlotte’s Web” (1952). The latter, which tells the story of a pig named Wilbur and his friendship with a spider named Charlotte, is regarded as one of the greatest children’s books of all time. Its timeless themes of friendship, the pains of growing up, and the unavoidable reality of death continue to strike a chord with readers young and old. The story is also imbued with the power of wonder. When Wilbur discovers farmer Homer Zuckerman’s plan to slaughter him, Charlotte begins to weave messages into her web. These seemingly miraculous missives attract human spectators from miles around, prompting a clergyman to muse that “human beings must always be on the watch for the coming of wonders.” And it is these very wonders, created by Charlotte out of love for her friend, that ultimately spare Wilbur’s life.